Sorting apparatus



May 25, 1943. c. J. FREY SORTING APPARATUS Filed June 26, 1941 2 sh eetsshee-t 1 INVENTOR- Yaw. ATT NEYS May 25, 1943. C. J. FREY 2,320,227

SOR'IING APPARATUS Filed June 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fef)Patented May 25, 1943 SORTING APPARATUS Christopher J. Frey, ForestHills, Long Island,

N. Y., assignor to Brewster Aeronautical Corporation, Long Island City,N. Y.

Application June 26, 1941, Serial No. 399,930

10 Claims.

This invention relates to means for separating solid articles andparticularly to apparatus for assorting and segregating rivets, or otherheaded fasteners, or articles of analogous shape.

The apparatus of the instant invention has particular application in theassortment and segregation of rivets, screws, or the like, havinggenerally the same shank diameter but various forms of heads. Ininstances where a bulk quantity of rivets, or the like, of difierentdiameters are encountered, other means may be utilized prior to use ofmy present apparatus for assorting and segregating the rivets intogroups of like shank diameter.

A specific embodiment of apparatus employing the principles of myinvention is shown in the accompanying drawings and described in detailin the ensuing specification. However, it is to be understood that thedescribed embodiment is merely by way of example and that I do notconsider my invention limited otherwise than as defined in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a general side elevational view of a preferredform of my apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the hopper portion of theapparatus, viewed from the left as seen in Fig. 1, and with partsthereof broken away for added clearness;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational View on a somewhat enlarged scale ofthe inclined trackway portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the element of Fig. 2;

Fig; 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line V-V ofFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line VI-VI ofFig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line VII-VIIof Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line VIII-VIIIof Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line IX-IX ofFig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line X--X ofFig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line XI-X[ ofFig. 4;

Fig. 12 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line XII-2HIof Fig. 4; and

Fig. 13 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line XIII-XIIIof Fig. 4.

In the drawings like characters of reference denote like partsthroughout the specification and the numeral l5 designates a containeror a hopper into which a mixed charge of rivets or. other analogousarticles to be sorted are placed. It will be noted that this hopper hasa bottom wall l6 which'inclines downwardly. to the left as viewed inFig. 1.

While it does not form a part of the present invention andv therefore isnot shown in great detail, it is also noted here that the bottom wall 16is substantially flat at its upper right hand end as viewed in Fig; 1,as at 11, Fig. 2, but tapers gradually so that its transversecross-section at the left hand or lowerend, as viewed in Fig; 1, issubstantially V-shaped, see 18 in Fig. 2. The apex of the V is providedwith a longitudinal groove at the edges of which there are provided apair of spaced dependi'ngfianges !9 which are so spaced as to provide achannel for receiving the shank portions of rivets of proper size.

To avoid jamming of the contents of the hopper in their course to thebottom of the V-shaped bottom wall, a baffle plate 2|] of .invertedV-shape is disposed in the hopperand extends across the major portionthereof to leave only shallow longitudinal slots 2i between its oppositeedges 2 and the interior longitudinal walls of the hopper I 5.

To the lower left-hand end of the hopper 15 there is joined a member 22which serves merely as an extension of the channel track formed by thespaced flanges E9 of the lowerwall of the hopper I5 and is provided toconnect between such flanges and the rivet assorting and segregatingmeans proper, which is designated generally 23.

In Fig. l the numeral 24 designates an elevated supporting platform forthe hopper l5 and itwill be noted that 'the hopper I5 is. resilientlymounted on such support as by meanso'f a rubber cushion'25, or the like.In Fig. 1 the numeral 26 designates a vibrator for the hopper which issecured thereagainst and may be of any desired form. Generally speakingsuch vibrating or agitating means Willincorporate an electric drivingmotor and a suitable'electrical conductor therefor is designated 21 inFig. 1.

The asserting and segregating means designated 23 comprises essentiallyan inclined trackway'for guiding rivets, or like pa'rtsto be assorted,therealong from the hopperto variouspoints of discharge from theassorting means. While the means- 23 is shown in the drawings anddescribed in the following. detailed description as comprising anassembly of a variety of. constituent plates and bars, such constructionis merely for facility in fabrication. Once assembled and in use themeans 23 comprises a rigid whole with no parts thereof movable relativeto other parts. The only movement is the relatively small amplitudevibration which is imparted to the inclined trackway by reason of itsconnection with the vibrating hopper |5. However, it is to be understoodthat it is not necessary that the trackway be vibrated in all instances.For this reason I shall describe the trackway of my invention withemphasis on its functional characteristics of shape rather than on thenumber, size and extent of the various pieces of metal which are rigidlysecured to each other to form the trackway.

The means 23 comprising the inclined trackway consists of a pair ofspaced rails 40 and 4|. In the illustrated form, the rails 43 and 4| areidentical to each other but of opposite hand. Rails 40 and 4| extend inspaced parallel relation and each has an upper ledge, 42 and 43respectively, directed toward the other to provide a restricted slot.The slot formed by the upper extensions 42 and 43 extends substantiallythe entire length of the trackway means 23 and is modified only by thepresence of several enlargements in width thereof. Its primary width,that is, its width throughout the major portion of the length of theapparatus, is only sufficiently wider than the diameters of the shanksof articles to be sorted to provide free sliding clearance.

Beginning with the right-hand end of the trackway, as seen in Figs. 1, 3and 4, a row of aligned rivets is introduced to the slot formed by theextensions 42 and 43, Fig. 5. The heads of the rivets so introduced willbe of various size and shape but the shank diameters of the fastenerswill all be substantially the same.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and described herein byWay of example, it is contemplated that the mixtures of rivets to beassorted and segregated will comprise five different head styles withsubstantially the same shank diameters. The length of the various rivetshandled by the device is immaterial. The five head styles dealt with inthe exemplary embodiment and the order in which they are separated fromthe bulk mixture in passing through the device are first, specialbrazier heads; two, round heads; three, countersunk heads; four, flatheads; and five, regular brazier heads. The brazier heads are relativelyfiat, oval headed rivets and the special brazier head is distinguishedfrom the regular brazier head in that it is relatively smaller in headdiameterthan the latter.

The rivets first separated are the special brazier heads and separationof this class of rivets is effected by virtue of the fact that thespecial brazier heads are smaller in diameter than any of the other fourclasses of heads encountered in the mixture. Between the points wherethe transverse cross-sections on the lines V-V and VI --VI are taken,the ledges 42 and 43 are cut back, as at 44., to provide a slottherebetween of enlarged width.

The width of this enlarged slot is just sufficient to permit the specialbrazier heads to fall through, all'of the remaining rivets of themixture passing over such enlargement because. their head diameters aregreater than the slot enlargement at 44. To preserve accurate alignmentof the remaining four classes of rivets at this point, the rails 40 and4| have lower inwardly directed ledges 41 and 48, respectively, and alongitudinal channel is thus formed in the opposed face. of each rail 40and 4| to permit movement of the special brazier heads therealong.

Just after the special brazier heads pass the transverse plane ofsection VI--VI and after the upper slot has resumed its normal Width,just larger than the shank diameter of the rivets, the ledges 41 and 48terminate and thus permit the special brazier head rivets to fall clearof the apparatus and a suitable receptacle may be provided for receivingthis class of rivets as at as in Fig. l.

The second class of rivets to be separated from the mixture is thatclass having round heads and, in effecting this separation, advantage istaken of the fact that the diameters of the heads of rivets of thisclass reduce sharply above the base thereof. As appears from aconsideration of Figs. 1 and'l, the rails 40 and 4! are provided withcam rises 52 and 53, respectively. These cam rises have their facingedges shaped to cooperate with the ledges 42 and 43 to form V-shapedgrooves so arranged as to receive the round head rivets only. The headsof the remaining three classes of rivets ride up on the rises 52 and 53while the round head rivets pass therebeneath.

After the remaining three classes of rivets have ridden onto the camrises 52 and 53, the extensions 42 and 43 are again out back, as at 55and 56, to permit the round head rivets beneath the cam rises 52 and 53to fall to a position Where they rest upon inward extensions 51 and 58formed on the rails 40 and 4|, Fig. 8, as in the case of the inwardextensions 41 and 48.

After a preliminary separation of the round I head rivets in this mannerhas been eifected and at a point Where all of the remaining rivets areagain safely supported and accurately retained in alignment by theresumption of narrow width of the slot formed by the extensions 42 and43, the ledges 51 and 58 terminate and the round head rivets are thuspermitted to fall free of the device into a container designated 59 inFig. 1.

After the three remaining classes of rivets have ridden down off the camrises 52 and 53, they encounter beveled edges 60 and 6| formed on theledges 42 and 43, which beveled edges permit countersunk heads to droptherebetween to the position indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 9.The remaining two classes of rivets cannot fall into the flaring slot byreason of the size of their heads and the lower edges of the beveledfaces 60 and GI maintain accurate alignment of the remaining rivets.

From this point the rivets move along the trackway and the remaining twoclasses ofrivets ride up on a second pair of cam rises 66 and 61. Thespacing of the opposed faces of the cam rises 66 and 6! is such as toaccurately guide the shanks of the two remaining classes of rivets in analigned row, see Fig. 10, and after these two remaining classes ofrivets are safely on the cam rises 66 and 61, the ledges 42 and 43 areagain out back to permit the countersunk head rivets supported therebyto drop clear of the apparatus into a container 16. It will be notedthat in this instance there is no need for the secondary lower ledge ofthe preceding stages.

The final separation of the fiat head rivets from the regular brazierhead rivets is effected by virtue of the smaller diameter of. theformer. As shown in Fig. 12 the rails 46 and 4| are provided withinwardly directed ledges I4 and 15 for accurately guiding the shanks ofthe two classes of rivets and the ledges 42 and 43 are again out back,as at Ti and 13, an amount sufficient to, permit the lat head rivets tola l d .W.

into a container 80.

tot-he ledges l4 and, such falling again'being arranged to occur withall of the rivet shanks guided accurately in'a lateral direction.

After the slot formed by the ledges 42 and 43 has resumed its normalnarrow shank-guiding width,,as in Fig. 13, the ledges 14 and 15terminate, permitting the'flat head rivets to drop The remaining regularbrazier head rivets continue along the ledges 42 and 43 to the end ofthe trackway and are discharged into a container 8|. e

,The degree of inclination ofthe trackway 23 and the violence ofvibration of the apparatus will obviously by regulated to produce acontinuous sliding movement of rivets along the trackway under the forceof gravity, impeded to the desired extent by the force of friction; andin some cases it will be found unnecessary to transmit vibrationlto thetrackwamand the headed elements will move along the trackway Withesmoothsliding motion.

' What is claimed is:

1. Assorting and segregating apparatus for headed elements comprisingsimilar shanks and "enlarged head portions of varying size, saidapparatus comprising an inclined track having a 'pair oi elongate spacedparallel supporting means'providing a slot' extending substantially thelength of said track only slightly wider than the shanks of saidelements, means for introducing an aligned row of said elements to theupper end of said trackwith their shank portions depending in said slotand their head portions resting on said supporting means, said slotbeing enlarged at its upper portion whereby heads smaller than saidenlargement may drop downward therein when they come into registry withsaid enlargement in movement along said slot without discharging throughsaid slot'and whereby the shank of elements having heads larger thansaid enlargement are guided in the lower unenlarged portion of saidslot, there being channels formed in the opposed faces of said means forreceiving the heads of dropped elements and permitting movement of saidelements therealong beyond said enlargement, and the lower portion ofsaid slot being formed with an enlargement at the terminus of saidchannels to permit the final dropping of said lowered elements from saidapparatus at a point spaced along said rails from said first mentionedupper enlargement of the slot;

2; Assorting and segregating apparatus for headed elements comprisingsimilar shanks and enlarged head portions of varying size, saidapparatus comprising an inclined track having a pair of elongate spacedparallel supporting means providing a slot extending substantially thelength of said track only slightly wider than the shanks of saidelements, means for introducing an alinged row of said elements to theupper end of said track with their shank portions depending in said slotand their head portions resting on said supporting means, a plurality ofsuccessively occurring ejecting stations along said track, the upperportion of said slot being enlarged at each of said'stations wherebyheads smaller than said enlargement may drop downward therein when theycome into registry with said enlargement in movement along said slotwithout discharging through said slot and whereby the shanks of elementshaving heads larger than said enlargement are guided in the lowerunenlarged portion of said slot, there being chan- ;ne1s formed .intheopposed-faces of said means 'for'receiving the heads of droppedelements and permitting movement of said elements therealong beyond saidenlargement, and the lower portion of said slot being formed with anenlargement at the terminus of said channels to permit the finaldropping of said lowered elements from said apparatus at a point spacedalong said rails from said first mentioned upper enlargement of theslot.

3. Assorting and segregating apparatus for headed elements comprisingsimilar shanks and enlarged head portions of varying size, saidapparatus comprising an inclined track having a pair of elongate spacedparallel supporting means providing a slot extending substantially thelength of said track only slightly wider than the shanks of saidelements, means for introducing an aligned row'of said elements to theupper end of said track with their shank portions depending in said slotand their head portions resting on said supporting means, said slotbeing enlarged at its upper portion whereby heads smaller than saidenlargement may drop downward therein when they come into registry withsaid enlargement in movement along said slot without discharging throughsaid slot and whereby the shanks of elements having heads larger thansaid enlargement are guided in the lower unenlarged portion of saidslot, there being channels formed in the opposed faces of said means forreceiving the heads of'dropped elements and permitting movement of saidelements therealong beyond said enlargement, the lower portion of saidslot being formed with an enlargement at the terminus of said channelsto permit the final dropping of said lowered elements from saidapparatus at a point spaced along said rails from said first mentionedupper enlargement of the slot, and means for continuously vibrating saidtrack to cause said headed elements to move downwardly therealong insaid slot.

4. Assorting and segregating apparatus for headed elements comprisingsimilar shanks and enlarged head portions of varying size, saidapparatus comprising an inclined track having a pair of elongate spacedparallel supporting means providing a slot extending substantially thelength of said track only slightly wider than the shanks of saidelements, means for introducing an aligned row of said elements to theupper end of said track with their shank portions depending in said slotand their head portions resting on said supporting means, a plurality ofsuccessively occurring ejecting stations along said track, said slotbeing enlarged at its upper portion at each of said stations wherebyheads smaller than said enlargement may drop downward therein when theycome into registry with said enlargement in movement along saidslotwithout discharging through said slot and whereby the shanks of elementshaving heads larger than said enlargement are guided in the lowerunenlarged portion of said slot, there being channels formed in theopposed faces of said means for receiving the heads of dropped elementsand permitting movement of said elements therealong beyond saidenlargemena'the lower portion of said slot being formed with anenlargement at the terminus of said channels to permit the finaldropping of said lowered elements from said apparatus at a point spacedalong said rails from said first mentioned upper enlargement of theslot, and means for continuously vibrating said track to cause saidheaded elements to move downwardly therealong in said slot.

enlarged head portions of varying size, saidappas ratus comprisingmeanshaving an elongate slot only slightly. wider than the shanks. ofsaid elements, means for introducing. an aligned row of said elements tosaid slot withtheir shank portions depending in said slot and theirheadportions resting on said means adjacent to said slot at oppositesides thereof for movement therealong, said slot being enlarged at itsupper portion whereby heads smaller than said enlargement may dropdownward therein when they come into registry with said enlargement inmovement along said slot without discharging through said slot andwhereby the shanks of elements having heads larger than said enlargementare guided in the lower unenlarged portion of said slot, there beingchannels formed in the opposed walls of said slot for receiving theheads of dropped elements and permitting movement of said elementstherealong beyond said enlargement, and the lower. portion of said slotbeing formed with an enlargement at the terminus of said channels topermit the final dropping of said lowered elements from said apparatusat a. point spaced along said means from said first mentioned upperenlargement. of the slot.

6. Asserting and segregating apparatus for headed elements comprisingsimilar shanks and enlarged head portions of varying size, saidapparatus comprising an inclined track having a pair of elongate spacedparallel supporting means providing a slot extending. substantially thelength .of said track onlvslightly wider thanthe shanks of saidelements, means for introducing analigned row of said elements to theupper end of said track with their shank portions depending in said slotand their head portions resting on said sup portingmeans, a pair of camrises formed on said track and spaced from each other. adistance greaterthan the width of said slot whereby. the

heads of some of the headed elements will pass between said cam risesand other larger heads will ride up on the cam rises, and an enlargementin said slot beneath said cam. rises whereby -headed elements passingbeneath the cam rises may fall from said apparatus while the shanks ofthe remaining headed elements are continuously maintained in accuratelyaligned relation by lateral guiding of said cam means.

7. Assorting and segregating apparatus for headed elements comprisingsimilar shanks and enlarged head portions of varying size, saidapparatus comprising an inclined track having a pair of elongate spacedparallel supporting means providing a slot extending substantially thelength of said track only slightly wider than the shanks of saidelements, means for introducing an aligned row of said elements to theupper end of said track with their shank portions depending in saidslotand their head portions resting on said supporting means, a pair ofcam rises formed on said track and spaced from each other a distancegreater than the width of said slot whereby the heads of some of theheaded elements will pass between said cam rises and other larger headswill ride up on the cam rises, an enlargement in said slot beneath saidcam rises whereby headed elements passing beneath the camrises may fallfrom said apparatus while the shanks of the remaining headed elementsare continuously maintained inaccurately. aligned relation by lat..-eral: guiding of said .cam. means, andv means. forvibrating'saidtrackgto cause a. row of saidielements to moveprogressively downwardlygtherealong.

8. Ass'orting andj segregating. apparatus :for headed elementscomprising similar shanks 1 and enlarged head portions of varying size,saidiapparatus comprising an inclined track having a pair of elongatespaced parallel supporting means providing a slot extendingsubstantially the. length of said track only slightly wider than theshanks of said elements, means for introducing an aligned row of saidelements to the upper end of said track with their shank portionsdepending in said slot and their head portions resting on saidsupporting means, a pair of cam rises formed on said track and spacedfrom each other a distance greater than the width of said slot wherebythe heads of some of the headed elements will pass between said camrises and other larger heads will ride up on the cam rises, said slotbeing enlarged at its upper portion be.- neath said cam rises wherebyheaded elements passing beneath the cam rises may drop downward thereinwhen they come into registry with said enlargement in movement alongsaid slot without discharging through said slot and whereby theshanks ofelements riding upon said cam are guided in the lower unenlarged portionof said slot, there being.channels formed in the opposed walls of saidslot. for receiving the heads of dropped elements and permittingmovement of said elements therealongv beyond said enlargement and thelower portion of said slot being formed with an enlargement at theterminus of said channels to permit final'dropping of said loweredelements from said apparatus at apoint spaced along said rails from saidfirst mentioned upper enlargement of said slot.

9. Assorting and segregating. apparatus for headed elements comprisingsimilar shanks and enlargedhead portions of varying size, said an.-paratus comprising anv inclined track having a pair of elongate spaced.parallel. supporting means providing a slot extending substantially thelength of. said track only slightly wider than the shanks of saidelements, means for introducing an aligned row of said elements to theupper end of said track with their shank portions depending in saidslotrand their head portions resting on said supporting means, said slotbeing'lenlarged at its upper portion whereby heads smaller than saidenlargement may drop downward therein when they come into register withsaid enlargementin'movement along said slot without discharging throughsaidslot, the depth of said enlargement being small enough to permit theshanks of elements having heads larger than said enlargement to remainguided in the-lower unenlarged portion o'f.-s aid slot, there beingchannels formed in the opposed faces of said means for receiving theheads of dropped elements and permitting; movement of said 'elementstherealong beyond said enlargement, and the lower portion of. saidslotbeing formed with an enlargement at the terminus .of' said channelsto permit the final dropping'of said lowered elements from saidapparatus at a point spaced along saidrails from said-firstmentioned-upper enlargement of 'theslot.

10; Assorting and segregating. apparatus. for headed elements including.opposed track means spaced toprovide .a. slot therebetweem saidtrackmeans being adapted to slidably engage said headed elements under theheated portions thereof and to vertically support said elements with thehead-dependent portions thereof extending through said slot, said slotbeing variously dimensioned in width' along said track means forpermitting headed elements having differently dimensioned heads to slidealong said track means and to fall through said slot at difierentpositions along said track means for 10

